blastall

friday, 4-29-05, 11. doubleo stops by my office in the newly improved courthouse. they have put paneling in the 2 northside elevators and installed something that looks like marble on the floor. crappy job on the floors. they still look like crime scenes. cracked and crusty. all show and no go. they haven't cleaned the stairwells in three weeks. a styrofoam cup of iced tea with a lemon has been festering between the third and fourth floors for three weeks. i could pick it up if i had a decontamination suit and gloves. nah. it is the only culture in the courthouse. i don't mess with living art. floppy just called. he is off today and wants to meet for lunch. a short debate. dying for pizza, tell him to meet us at decent pizza on north monroe st. at joins us. i drive. it is always fun to see tall people pretzel themselves into a two door civic. at, ever the gentleman, with his knees in his ears, in the back. doubleo, looking like a human ball of twine, riding shotgun. as soon as we unfold into the parking lot, the great smell of pie is noticed by all. floppy is already at a table for 4-7. we can eat big and grow into our extra seats. this is another place where you order off the wall. no tents needed. you can give a name or rely on the happy cashier's memory of who got what and where they are sitting. no crowd yet, so memory will serve us well and eventually she does. i order a vegan pizza with black olives and onions. i did not know it was a pepsi place, but out of decisional deference to myself-i picked the venue-i don't complain too much and settle down with a sunkist. i note they have bass ale on tap. if the pie is good and i return after work, i will have nothing to gripe about. ok, i'll find something. my vegan pizza comes to the table sans cheese. my pie is a lie. PIZZA=CRUST+OIL+TOMATO SAUCE+CHEESE. ADDITIONAL TOPPINGS OPTIONAL. i am looking at what appears to be a juiced-up bialy. my companions who dine here regularly are not shy about advising me on the difference between vegan and vegetarian. now i know. please excuse for being duped by a menu item. if it does not have cheese, they should not call it pizza. call it a tasty concoction of herb crust with your choice of toppings. before finishing my vegan thing , i order a slice of CHEESE PIZZA. i'm growing into one of the extra seats floppy so wisely commandeered. the vegan crust is better than the pizza crust. on my next visit, and i will be back, for decent pizza is not a chain and they have happy help, i shall order a VEGAN PIZZA. yes ma'am, my choice of toppings-black olives, onions and CHEESE. thank you very much for taking my special order. please accept my humble apology for wearing a leather belt and leather shoes.